Cheesy Shrimp and Grits

Ingredients

• 1 cup stone-ground grits
• 4 cups water
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups shredded fontina cheese (or white cheddar)
• Cayenne pepper
• 1 pound shrimp (peeled and deveined)
• 1/2 pound bacon (chopped)
• 1/2 lemon (juiced)
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
• 3/4 cup chopped green onions
• 1 clove garlic (minced)
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. 1

   First, make the cheesy grits: In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Add the grits, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Whisk well to avoid clumping. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the water is absorbed, 10-12 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the butter, cheese, and 2-3 dashes of cayenne pepper. Cover until ready to serve.

2. 2

   Next, cook the shrimp: In a large skillet, fry the bacon over medium-high heat. When crisp, remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel to drain.

3. 3

   Add the shrimp and another dash of cayenne pepper to the bacon grease. Sauté for 2 minutes. Add the onions, garlic, parsley, and lemon juice. Cook 1 minute, then toss and remove from the heat. Add the cooked bacon back to the skillet. (No need to salt the shrimp, since it’s going into bacon grease.)

4. 4

   Divide the grits onto plates and top with the shrimp mixture and bacon pieces.